WHAT WE DO

WHAT WE DO 

What we do is very little, but it is like the boy with a few loaves and fishes: Christ took that little and increased it. He will do the rest. What we do is so little we may seem to be constantly failing, but so did Christ fail. He met with apparent failure on the cross. But unless the seed fall into the earth and die, there is no harvest. And why must we see the results? Our work is to sow. Another generation will be reaping the harvest. (Dorothy Day)

That is a really good question.  Why should we be able to see the results?  We would be wasting a lot of valuable time worrying about the results instead of moving forward and doing what we do. 

Our work is to sow.  That’s such a simple phrase to encompass a life’s work.  Once we dedicate ourselves to following Christ, it does become our life’s work.  Consider the original 12 Apostles, then the many disciples, St. Paul, Barnabas, Mark, Luke, Priscilla and her husband Aquila, Timothy and his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois, all who took on this work for the rest of their lives. What they did probably seemed little to them.  They talked about Jesus. They encouraged people to see the beauty of his message and they helped wherever they were needed. The result was the foundation of the Church.  I’m quite sure they didn’t know that.  

Just exactly what would sowing look like?  It’s when someone sneezes and you say,” God Bless You” and you mean it.  You stop someone who wants to spread gossip.  You avoid joining in any conversation that denigrates someone’s character.  You smile even when you don’t feel like it and you help whenever you can for whomever needs it. You forgive.  You praise.  You say, “I love you”.  You speak with courage in the sure knowledge that God supports you.

The most important thing you can do be effective, is get to know Jesus better.  Approach him in prayer the way you would approach any friend.  Never think God is far away.  Get over the idea that God must be called to attention or worse, nagged to hear our requests.  Jesus said it and it bears repeating; “The Father knows what you need before you ask.”

The farmer does not usually plant each seed individually, but scatters it, confident that seed falling on good soil will thrive.  So that is how we sow the Word.  Throughout Scripture, both Hebrew and New Testaments, God assured us that we must not worry about what we are to say, because the Spirit is always with us.  In order to be successful at sowing, we must trust the Spirit. What happens after that is up to God. 

Blessings, 

Carol Lemelin OPA

THE EVER PRESENT WHY

THE EVER PRESENT WHY

11/20/19 

The author asks the question,  “Why it is that those who seek God do not see God in the creations of God?”Wisdom 13: 1-9

These verses concentrate on the wonders of nature and the obvious fact, to him anyway, that the wind, the rain, the flowers, the animals, and the oceans are right there, but the seekers miss it all. They are searching for God while surrounded by his glory. He asks how can they call these things gods and not wonder where they came from in the first place. 

I don’t know how many people in the world believe that God created it.  But those who say a creator is impossible, counter those who say random creation is impossible. I can’t watch a hummingbird or examine a Queen Anne’s Lace blossom then attribute their existence to randomness. But some people do. 

Maybe that is why some people can ignore the existence of, or the rights of, other people.  If they decide that other humans are somehow not exactly like themselves, they then feel free to hate them, resent them, abuse them or even kill them. 

There are differences such as skin color, religion, language or culture, which can and do create divisions among us.  However, the fact remains that each person is a creation of God.  That God loves each person in the same measure.  That is very hard to keep in focus when we are dealing with the actions of other people.   Still, that is what God expects from us.  From the communication with the earliest people, to the present, God has called on us to love one another.  It remains the hardest thing to do.  

God is not unaware of our struggle, however.  The struggle to follow his command even though our emotions run high is tough.  Our prayer should always be that God would give us the strength and the will to do what he commands in spite of our inclination to do the opposite.

God is love, but if we stay that level of pious thought without identifying our everyday experiences of goodness and caring with God’s presence, we are like the people raving about the glories of nature while ignoring the creator of such glories. God is with us at all times and all good comes from the presence of God within us. 

That alone should be enough for us to follow Christ’s example with confidence. 

Blessings

Carol Lemelin OPA 

KEEP THE CHANGE

KEEP THE CHANGE

11/13/19

If there were one thing most people could agree on, it would be the strong dislike for change.  Changes happen all the time, but the ones that upset us are those, which happen without our consent. Those are the changes that take us out of our comfort zone.   However, the changes we make ourselves aren’t always the best either, but then we only have ourselves to blame.  If we look back through time we will see a zigzag pattern of changes. Some of those changes will be wonderful to recall, because they were the right ones. 

What made me think of this was considering the life of the early followers of Christ. 

They were faced with a choice following the death of Jesus.  They could just go back to their lives and forget the whole thing, or they could stay with the Apostles and see what the descent of the Spirit, promised by Jesus, would mean to them.  Certainly this would mean a complete change in their lives. Some probably took the first choice, but many others took the second.  Jesus warned that making a change this dramatic would lead to much grief. For many it did. Still, they accepted the change that following Him would mean. 

Take Paul of Tarsus, the firebrand defender of The Law. He believed that those who followed Jesus were traitors to the ancient faith and deserved to be destroyed. By the time he was writing his letter to the Romans, he had done a total about face. It is hard to imagine what his mindset must have been like in those early days. But, I’m guessing the Holy Spirit worked overtime to effect this change. St. Paul’s exposure to Christ through His followers made such an impression that he was willing to make the change from The Law to the Word. In his letter to the Romans, Paul makes a statement that defines this change, but might have made his hand shake as he wrote it. 

Love is the fulfillment of the Law.  (Rom: 10-13)

Christ calls us to make changes, too, changes that fulfill our calling. We are called to fight racism, discrimination, false judgments, and injustice.  If we need to change our long-held opinions to achieve this, so be it.  It’s important to take stock of our faith life and be sure it is in line with Christ’s message. If it isn’t, we need to change. 

Abide with me Lord, Thou who never changes, Abide with me.

Carol Lemelin OPA

THE WAY

THE WAY

11/6/19

In today’s world situation it is essential that here and there among people there continue to exist rays of light and hope, spiritual realities by which the unity of God’s peace and the brotherliness of true justice are recognized. This is our only task.

These are the thoughts of Eberhard Arnold who wrote them in the 1930’s as Nazism began its control of Germany.  The world situation as he described it is no different than it was in Jesus’ time or in ours.  The players are all different, but the conditions are the same; people trying to make the world better against people trying to tear it apart. 

And so it was with the earliest followers of Christ.  All of these people, wherever they lived, Jew or Gentile, were different from the rest of the community.  This was a precarious situation.  Jesus predicted that households would be divided because of him.  These people were now living that reality.  They were no longer part of their religious communities.  They were different and for the most part, suspect.  

They did not call themselves Christians.  They called themselves The Way. At the Last Supper, Jesus was preparing them for his death and told them he would prepare a place for them and that they would know the way.  Thomas said they didn’t know the way and Jesus replied, “ I am the way.”

This passage refers to eternal life, but more importantly, The Way means living our lives with Jesus as the main focus.  This is why the early disciples called themselves The Way.  This was a new way to look at the world, their relationship with God and with their fellow humans.

Somewhere along the line we have forgotten what that means.  All Christians should be practicing The Way.  If we had, there would never have been so much division.  St. Paul spent his entire ministry trying to keep people focused on the way of Jesus.  Our final destination is up to God.  We waste a lot of time worrying about how our actions might retard our entry into Glory. Instead we should be spending our energy being The Way for others.

You may ask, “What exactly is The Way?”  Kathleen Hasenberg tells us this: 

Modern life is so complicated and torn, so distracting and disintegrating, whereas The Way is simple, light, and straight. It unifies the whole of life.

To walk the path Jesus trod in compassion for others is The Way. It isn’t just the path to God; it is the path through this world.

Blessings, 

Carol Lemelin OPA

HOW WILL THEY KNOW?

HOW WILL THEY KNOW?

10/30/19

“We do not know how to pray as we should in times of stress.

Then the Holy Spirit prays for us in the very strongest way.

Then the One who searches the heart understands what the Spirit

Is asking.” Rom: 8:26-27

Of all Paul’s letters, the letter to the Romans is my favorite.  I thought it appealed because the people of Rome were more like us city folk and he found it easy to speak to them.  I was wrong about that.  I never knew until recently that St. Paul was not the founder of the church in Rome. What is more interesting is no one knows exactly who was responsible for bringing the message of Christ to Rome. 

My late son, who in addition to being a military officer, was also a military historian, who reveled in history.  I used to have to pedal really fast to keep up with him in that area.  I did my best and we shared some great conversations.  One thing he was convinced of is that the Centurion who stated at the Cross-that Jesus was truly the Messiah, was the same officer whose servant Jesus cured.  My son also reveled in the fact that one of things that drove the Emperor Nero mad was the knowledge that half of the soldiers in the Roman army were Christians.  Too bad David isn’t here to proclaim that the self-same centurion may have begun the conversion of the Romans.

If that were true, it would be a sign to all Christians that sharing the Good News is everyone’s responsibility.  Albert Camus puts it like this: 

            

            “What the world expects of Christians is that they should speak out, loud and clear; that they should voice their convictions in such a way that not even the slightest doubt could arise in the heart of the simplest person.”

The first thing we must ask ourselves as we consider what this would mean to us, is “What exactly is the Good News?”  I know what it is for me, but we all have to pray to know and trust that the Spirit is there to help. Take the Centurion for example.  He was the leader of men, a very rough crowd of men, so the message had to be strong and convincing.  His presence at the crucifixion of Jesus would be his stepping off point. These men all had been treated heartlessly. Many of them came from places very far from Rome, which they never expected to ever see again.  They were exactly the people who needed to hear how Jesus bore his suffering without condemnation of his executioners who were Roman soldiers.  That God loved them regardless of their link to Rome and was merciful to all people including them.  

That basically is what every one should come to know and as Paul puts it at another time,   “ How will they know if no one tells them?  

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

BEHOLD I AM WITH YOU ALL DAYS

BEHOLD I AM WITH YOU ALL DAYS

10/23/19

These are the last words of Jesus according to Scripture.  Consider the disciples. They have been through so much and experienced things they never could have imagined.  I think its naïve to think that they understood everything at this point. Jesus told them to stay in the city until the Spirit came.  Even that was mysterious. But their faith in Jesus was so strong by now, that uncertain as they may have been as to what form the Spirit would take, they went back to the city and waited.  

Their faith was rewarded, but I daresay not without some controversy. There were many disciples of Jesus by that time.  Upwards of 80 or more that we know of, so imagine the conversations that ensued.  Faith filled or not, everyone probably had something to say. Some thought Jesus would return very soon. Others believed he was gone for good.  Most hoped that somehow what He said about always being near would actually happen. After all, He never said anything he didn’t mean.  Then, with the descent of the Spirit, they understood and believed. 

This may be the most important article of faith we possess.  Knowing that the presence of Christ in our world, in our lives, in our very being is real, transforms us.  We need to look at everything through that prism. Every event, every controversy, every problem has to be examined that way.  I don’t think you can convince anyone of that, at least, not by words. But since you truly believe it, and live it, you can suggest that anyone who doubts it should live and act as though it were true for a week. If they really open themselves to it, the results should be amazing. The truth is, if you live with this knowledge at the forefront you will love.  

Three very different people put it this way: 

Words of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, a 19^th Century Engineer and novelist. 

“Go, and fear not. Be not bitter against anyone. Be not angry if you are wronged. Forgive. Be reconciled with everyone. If you are penitent, you love. And if you love, you are of God. All things are atoned for and all things are saved by love. Love is such a priceless treasure that you can redeem the whole world by it. “

Words of John Lennon, a 20^th century philosopher and Rock star. 

“All you need is love.” 

Words of Jesus Christ, Redeemer.

“Love one another as I have loved you.” 

Knowing He is with us at all times, make this much easier.

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

TAKE HEART

TAKE HEART 

During the Cold War, I was absolutely terrified.  When your government sends you a brochure on how to build a bomb shelter, it tends to strike terror in your heart. During those years, I kept waiting for the bombs to drop.  Saber rattling between the U.S. and Russia went on all the time.  I never told anyone how frightened I was because no one else seemed to be.  I was helpless until the day I read these words, which have been attributed to St. Francis DeSales. 

Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either he will shield you from suffering, or he will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in him and I am helped. He is not only with me, but in me, and I in him.”

When I first read these words everything changed.  I hung on to them for dear life.  Still do, in fact.  I believed that words of such confidence and comfort had to come from someone who knew what I was feeling. St. Francis DeSales was just such a person, who was well known for his gentle compassion and certainly these words reveal it. 

Many years ago Franklin Roosevelt told the people of America that the only thing we really needed to fear was fear itself.  Those words are still true.  When we are afraid, much of our common sense is overwhelmed.  We make snap decisions about what might happen, often making things worse.  

Jesus knew this was true.  So often his first words when meeting people were “Don’t be afraid.”  “Why”, you can ask, “would anyone be afraid of Jesus?”   Put yourself in the place of someone of that century of that culture, that religion and you meet a person whose has been known to do actual miraculous things. Perhaps you even witnessed one for yourself.  If he could raise someone from the dead, like the young man at Nain, then could he not strike someone dead?  But then, you would look in his eyes and know that couldn’t happen.  While we can’t do that, we have the testimony of those who did.  

The woman at the well said there was just something about the man that was compelling. Zaccheus leapt out of the tree and confessed everything just looking at Jesus.  Millions of people have formed unbreakable bonds with Jesus.  They are all around us. Their testimony is valid.  The only way to truly know Jesus is to read the New Testament thoroughly. Read until you understand how Francis could have written those words. 

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

MISTAKES

MISTAKES

Two adages that I heard when I was about 7 or 8 advised, “Never make the same mistake twice, and “Always learn from your mistakes.”  Oh, how I wish I had been able to do that all the time!  Unfortunately, I have to say I probably scored 50 percent on those tests. But, I did learn one thing; I learned to forgive myself. So often when people continue to fail at things, they often become depressed and begin to feel worthless. Most of the time it’s because they feel they are a disappointment; a disappointment to parents, teachers, peers or God.

Everyone needs to learn is that you can’t disappoint God. You are God’s very own special creation. God knows you inside and out. He knows what your weaknesses and your strengths are. God’s love is made to order just for you. Our failure to know and embrace this keeps us from forgiving ourselves for our mistakes. If God could be sad, which he can’t, this would do it. Love, which is God’s other name, wants only our happiness. He conveyed that through the prophet Jeremiah; “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Remember that song which goes,

 “Pick yourself up. Dust yourself off. Start all over again”?  That is pretty much what we are expected to do.  You always have God’s attention, but wait, that’s what you’re afraid of isn’t it? Then think of God as your very best friend who will not criticize or mock, but just be in your corner all the time. Remember the promise of Jesus; “Come to me all who are burdened and weary and I will give you rest”. His promises are real and can be trusted. So go ahead and live your life, mistakes and all. The One who loves you best, will be with you to help you pick yourself up.

Be good to yourself. 

Carol Lemelin OPA

"Stay calm, be courageous, and watch for signs."

WHAT HE SAID

WHAT HE SAID 

The very structure of the Catholic faith rests on the words of Jesus Christ. 

Some of those words require thought to understand what he meant. Others are quite simple and require no special interpretation.  Still, we ignore them.  

Here are some: 

Judge not, lest you be judged  - judging has become the national pastime!

Call no man father, there is but one Father–How this one came to be ignored is a mystery.

If you have seen me you have seen the Father- Prayers to one are prayers to both.

No one knows the day or the hour, except the Father– Rumors of the end of the world should be ignored.

He who is without sin cast the first stone.  What about that arsenal of stones we keep?

It is not what goes into one’s mouth that defiles, but what comes out of it.Hate speech, racist speech, divisive speeches are actually violence.

Who by worrying about it can grow and inch?Jesus had something to say about everything, even how much we want to be something we aren’t.

Do not cast your pearls before swine.   If you fail to convince anyone of the love of God, you have Jesus’ permission to move on. 

When you pray do not babble – the Father knows what you need before you ask.

How much happier would we be if we really believed those words?

Whoever believes has eternal life. Notice Jesus does not list any other regulations. 

The leaders of the Gentiles lord it over their people and their authority is felt, but that will not be so with you. People with power forget this one the fastest. 

Don’t put new wine into old wine skins– Don’t be afraid to grow and change and know God better. Jesus calls us to it. 

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

THE CHALLENGE

THE CHALLENGE

I have always liked Science Fiction.  I especially like the stories where humans are struggling to live on other planets.  My favorite among those has been the Legacy of Heorot by Niven, Pournelle and Barnes. 

The story is about a group of International space travelers who are determined, even committed, to living out their lives on a planet they call Avalon. They are menaced by a monster.  They set up elaborate security measures hoping to capture and kill it. Their leader, however, urges them not to engage in the traditional human way, that is, to kill whatever it is.  He believes they have to get to know the beast before they take its life. He has his hands full trying to convince them, so he sets out to find and learn about the beast himself.  

I see similarities in the life of Jesus.  He constantly reminded his followers to see things through a new lens. The old ways, he says, using the metaphor of new wine in old skins, are not bad, but must make way for the new. When that passage is used, the last thing Jesus says is rarely heard.  He said, “Those who drink old wine do not want new wine or wine skins because they say, ‘old is good.’  Old is good, but for the world to grow and flourish, people had to adjust to the presence of new ideas. 

Jesus whole life was dedicated to change.  Change in the way people viewed the Father.  Change in the way people viewed one another.  Change in the way people reacted to life’s happenings. He told them and us to come to him and he would help us change. He promised that with him by our side, it would not be an unbearable burden.   

It is true that being good and loving others is not easy. It is serious challenge.  Jesus was a human being.  He knew what he was asking.  He had his detractors and downright enemies and was totally aware of the danger he was in. That did not stop him. We can never outdo Jesus when it comes to challenges.  

Back to Avalon for a minute: the leader, without encouragement from the others, set out to find and learn about the menace.  He risked his life, and nearly lost it, but in the end, he was successful. The colony learned to live in peace with the other being. 

Jesus did everything he could to show us the way.  We have the burden of justifying his sacrifices by embracing his example.  He has promised to be with us no matter what and it is that which makes following him possible.  His yoke is easy and his burden light, certainly lighter than the burden’s of living without him. 

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

A CONSTANT STATE OF WONDER

A CONSTANT STATE OF WONDER

There are many things in this world that produce the state of wonder.  For example, infants leave me speechless as they show their personalities almost from the moment of birth.  A three-month-old baby is laughing.  You wonder, how does he know what’s funny?  Then there are wonders of modern medicine.  Doctors can reverse HIV in infants while they are still in the womb!  Then there is technology, the best example being that NASA sent a rover they named Oppy (Short for Opportunity) to Mars in 2004 for what they thought would be 90 days of sending back data. The wonder is that Oppy died in February 2019. Because it was so much a part of their lives, the research team wept at its demise. These are just samples of the wonders on earth. 

There is also a spiritual state of wonder, but this is one  that should not be. 

People go through life wondering, “Why did God do this?”or “Why didn’t God do this? What is God’s will for me?”Life is random at best, and trying to figure out what God wants while at the same time trying to deal with life, is very difficult. That probably isn’t God’s will. 

I don’t think God ever intended for us to be in a constant state of wondering what He is up to.  From the time God first spoke to humans, he was quite clear about what he wants from us.  He scolded them for sacrificing animals, telling them he wanted only that they love one another.  He said we would not find him in violent weather, but in a whisper.  He scolded them for making reverence for the Sabbath a chore. He said that man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was made for man.

Then he came himself in the person of Jesus.  He repeated all those things and more, and by example showed us how God wants us to live. It may be that the simplicity of it is too much for people.  If God ever did speak to the world out loud, I think he might ask, “What part of love one another don’t you get?”

Instead of worrying about what God is thinking, we would all be better off if we simply trusted his presence.  The knowledge of the presence of God makes it possible to bear the burdens.  They are not going to be any less painful, but you will have the strength you need to cope, simply because you are fully aware that God cares.  God gave us free will. We can’t want to be free to live our lives as we see fit, and at the same time expect God to solve our problems for us. 

King David, whose relationship with God was rock solid despite his failures, wrote in Psalm 139: “You have probed me, you know me.  You encircle me and rest your hand upon me. Your right hand guides me and holds me fast.”

God is not deaf to us, and as Jesus said, “God knows what you need, before you ask.”  

Trust in Him. That is where peace lies.  That’s the true wonder. 

Blessings

Carol Lemelin OPA

THE GREAT HEART OF GOD

THE GREAT HEART OF GOD

When people feel lonely and unsure of themselves, it is often because they do not believe deeply enough that God fully understands them. Paul writes that if we love fully, we will understand as we are fully understood. John’s words are very important, too: God loved us before we were ever able to love him. This is what must enter our small hearts, and what we must hold on to: the love of the Great Heart, which understands us fully.  J. Heinrich Arnold

I love the image of God as the Great Heart.  Jesus actually revealed the heart of God in the story of the Prodigal son.  The father in that story stands in for God as he paces back and forth day after day, watching the road for the sight of his son returning home.  When that day finally comes, he abandons all dignity and runs to hold his lost child in his arms. He embraces him, forgiving everything. 

The elder son, however, was blinded by jealously and could not see the greatness of his father’s love encompassing them both without favoritism. Sadly, many people side with the elder brother.  They, like him, fail to understand that the compassion and love of God encompasses everyone. There is complete understanding of each of us and as St. Paul tells, nothing can separate us from the love of God, not even ourselves.

In 1942 I was six years old. I woke one morning and it as very dark and the house was very quiet. My parent’s room was empty. I crept down the stairs, but the living room was dark, too.  Even though I thought I heard a noise from the kitchen, I was afraid, so I sat on the top step and waited.  All of a sudden a light went on and my uncle John came into the room with a towel over his trousers for an apron and a spatula in his hand. “Good Mornin’, Carol Ann.” He said.  “Mommy and Daddy went to the hospital to get the baby, and I’m making a stupendous breakfast just for you!”   The relief I felt was huge and the sense of absolute safety this uncle of mine provided has lived in my memory all these years. He was a person with a big heart. There are many of them in the world, and they, unbeknownst to themselves, reveal the Great Heart of God, because all good comes from there.  

This is how we should image God.  Even with all the testimony of Jesus, for many people, God still remains an angry, judgmental figure, waiting to pounce when we fail.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  God has spoken words of comfort and assurance from the beginning, but has been drowned out by the insistence of the human race to fashion a God who reflects them. It is time for us to put an end to this and to reflect the Great Heart of God for all to see. 

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin, OPA

SAFE?

SAFE?

Every once in a while, I hear or read something that startles me because I never thought of it before or it never occurred to me to see in a different light.  That happened this week when I read Pope Francis’ remark about gossip. 

He says, “Gossip is the terrorism of the Christian community.”  Those are strong words, which indicate how deeply he feels about that subject.  

In the current atmosphere of immigrant discrimination, churches are being called 

Sanctuary sites. Where people are safe.  What the Pope suggests is that our churches should also be sanctuaries from gossip, back-biting, criticism, tale-telling, unkindness, and grudges. It is supposed to be a place where the presence of Christ is not just in the tabernacle, but also in the people.  A place where people are safe. 

The more I think about this, the more my conscience stings. This behavior is practically the national pastime.  The idea that the church is a place of safety in this regard is very likely unheard of anywhere.  Is it a sign that our complacency with our Christianity is unfounded? 

Do we reflect Jesus? Jesus confounded all the religious authorities by talking to, touching, loving, and healing everyone without discrimination.  When he was rejected, he simply moved on.  He did not waste time in regrets or stewing over slights, but looked forward and continued his mission.  He was commissioned to bring to the world the truth about God.  God is ever loving, ever patient, ever forgiving.  That was his all-consuming passion. Shouldn’t it be ours as well? 

The earliest Christian communities, beset on all sides by enemies, they came together in pure joy of sharing their love of Jesus. So what happened?  Why isn’t there one Christian Community instead of thousands?  Perhaps we need to start over.  Perhaps we need to model our church community on that of the earliest believers. They thought he was coming back, but we know He has not left us, which means He is present!  How would we behave if Jesus were visible?  There would be no question about our church being a safe place. As it is God’s will that all the good that is done, must be done by us, we have little choice but to try to make that dream come true. 

“The eyes of love will perhaps be able to see how Christ himself departs, quietly and invisibly, from the sanctuary... The singing will continue to resound, the clouds of incense will arise, and the faithful will be overcome by the ecstatic beauty of the services. But Christ will go out onto the church steps and mingle with the crowd: the poor, the lepers, the desperate, the embittered, the holy fools. Christ will go out into the streets, the prisons, the low haunts and dives. Again and again.”  Mother Maria Skobtsova

Blessings, 

Carol Lemelin, OPA

2nd Corinthians 6:1-10

2 Corinthians 6: 1-10

“We cause no one to stumble in anything, on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves to God, through much afflictions, hardships, constraints, beatings, imprisonments riots and labors by knowledge, patience, kindness, in true love, in truthful speech, in the power of God.”

Paul was always being resisted in Corinth.  It was an enormous task to keep the Church in Corinth faithful to the gospel.  False prophets and even fake Christians beset them. Paulcould have simplified his remarks by saying, “No matter what threatens you, do not falter. And, whatever you do, do it in love and keep Jesus foremost in your heart.”  

But this letter and the 1st Corinthians were, in the eyes of the Holy Spirit, meant for us as well as the people of Corinth.  No matter what happens, stay strong in faith and trust in God and never lash out at persecutors, but follow Jesus’ example and pray for them.  Never let the bad days bring out unkindness, rudeness or pessimism and overshadow your true self.  Always be aware that the Spirit is right there with you and you need no signs to remind you of that.  

St. Paul has often been misunderstood because most of us have never actually delved into his life, his personality, and his astonishing ability to spread the message of Jesus. We must remember that he did not know Jesus, but learned of Him through the behavior of His followers. How else would people learn of the staggering gifts that await anyone who finds Him, except through our behavior?

Read this letter to see how Paul influenced every facet of life with Jesus as the focus. It is invigorating and , oh by the way, evidence of what a hero is. He traveled all over for years. He never forgot each community, which his letters prove.  His absolute confidence in the rightness of his calling is an example for all of us who claim to be followers of Jesus. 

Something Extra

Last week I visited the Bible Museum in Washington D.C.  I don’t know what I expected, but the whole experience was thrilling. The building itself is a wonder. It is a renovated elderly edifice that has been transformed. Anywhere they could bring in the light they have, to remind us that the Bible is the light in the world.  The displays and videos were lovely and simple. There was no preaching, just sharing.  We came away feeling energized and in awe of the power of the Bible.  

May God Bless your summer and may you be safe and rested.

Carol Lemelin OPA

THE TRINITY MYSTERY

THE TRINITY MYSTERY

“In the Trinity, the three must be maintained as three and understood as different from one another. Yet the infinite trust and flow between them is so constant, so reliable, so true, and so faithful that they are also completely one.” 

(Julian of Norwich)

The Trinity is the one article of faith that must remain just that, a matter of faith. 

Part of the reason why we find it so hard to get our heads around it, is the use of the word personsin it’s official definition.  Three persons in one are not possible, but then, God is not a person.  The definition above is, for me, one of the best. On a par with that, is the visual interpretation of the Trinity found in The Shack, by Wm. Young.  

Thousands of thinkers, writers, philosophers and mystics have been inspired to search for a deeper to understanding of the Trinity.  The Spirit of God is constantly flowing though the world, and all these people have discovered it and proclaimed it. Their revelations help us to feel that Spirit encouraging, prompting and reminding us of the presence of God within us all.  When we are doing our best to follow Jesus’ commands, we need to acknowledge that the Spirit is our guide. 

I am grateful to these people for their insights. It is all the proof we need that God wants us to know and understand. We can’t just accept other people’s conclusions, until we spend the time required to make the perceptions our own. We all have to come to understanding of the nature of God at our pace and in our way. It may seem like a daunting, if not downright scary idea, but follow Jesus’ instruction, “Fear not.”  This same Spirit you are attempting to understand will guide you. 

Dame Julian’s imagery is beautiful, simple and profound. She spent a life as a recluse and yet is considered both a theologian and a mystic. She was born in 1342.  Her book, Revelations of Divine Love, has survived as the oldest English language book written by a woman.  That, along with her grasp of the Trinity, is awe-inspiring.  

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA 

WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE?

WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE?

“The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you.”

Frederic Buechner

I had two thoughts when I read this quote. First, I never heard of this person and it makes me want to know more.  So this summer I will get one of his 35 books and see what he is all about. Then I thought, what a delightful way of telling people that their very existence is important. It is important to God and should be so regarded by everyone else.

It is very common for people to shy away from any idea that they have value. For some reason we have developed the idea that considering ourselves as valuable to the world is somehow wrong.  We never want to be considered egotistical or proud and we disdain anyone who does declare their value.  Jesus actually cautioned us to avoid this error when he said that we should not hide our light under a bushel basket!

Throughout the Acts of the Apostles we read of those who embraced the message of Christ and how they were transformed into what they called people of light.  We should all feel that.  We are duty-bound to go as deep as necessary to find that light. Then nurture it, keep it growing and filling our hearts so that everyone who comes in contact with us feels valued.

Now the problem is, that when we are told to see God in people, we come up against a really difficult task.  It is easier and better, I think, to try to understand what God sees in them.  We know, whether we want to acknowledge it or not, that everyone has value in His eyes.  We certainly find comfort and joy in that knowledge for ourselves. So why are we so reluctant to admit it in others?  We have to ask ourselves who do we think we are? 

There is so much more to a person than their outward appearance or even what they have done.  The one thing we are really good at, but shouldn’t do, is make judgments about others. I am always reminded of the police detective in the Michael Connelly books, Harry Bosch.  He was asked why he was working so hard to find out who killed a homeless man.  He replied, “Everybody counts.”  That is God’s opinion as well. 

On his last hours on earth, Jesus cautioned his disciples to keep his commandments.

There were only two: Love God and love your neighbor.  It would behoove us to remember that they are equal in importance in his eyes. 

Blessings

Carol Lemelin OPA

HOW CAN I TRUST GOD?

 HOW CAN I TRUST GOD?

It is one of my themes that trust in God is the road to inner peace.  But there are several things, which impede a person from turning over their lives to God. Please do not report me to the authorities, but the God often depicted in the Hebrew Testament is not trustworthy.  For example, in Numbers 21: 4-6, we read,  “The Jewish refugees from Egypt got fed up with the conditions and complained to Moses. So God sent serpents among them, which bit the people and many died.” This image of God is totally at odds with who God truly is. Who would trust such a God?

To know God as God truly is, we need to hear about him from Jesus.  The way to trusting in God is through Jesus.  Get to know Jesus.  Study Jesus. Don’t depend solely on what you hear on Sunday, but open the New Testament and read.  Part of the reason that Christianity even exists is the message Jesus gave us about the everlasting love of God.  

Don’t be afraid to question or doubt. Pray to the Spirit to join you in your quest. 

In my own case, it was the day I read that passage in Numbers.  I thought who, but an evil person would do such a thing?  If I, a mere mortal, would not even think of doing such a thing, how could I love a God who would?  So I began to study, to listen to Jesus, to find the answers. 

We are going through serious weather issues at the moment.  And, of course, those who prefer a God who is as judgmental and bloodthirsty as they are, have decided that this is God punishing sinners.  Jesus has told us that God is Love.  God cannot visit death on people randomly in hopes of getting the sinners, and still be Love.

In all fairness, I must say that our God of love is evident in the Hebrew Scriptures, but is often obscured by the stories, fables and violence in those pages.  

Case in point: Jeremiah 31:33 “This is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel. I will place my law within them, and write it on their hearts. They will no longer teach each other “Know the Lord!” Everyone from the least to the greatest shall know me, for I shall forgive them and remember their sins no more.”

You can see how easy it will be to grow in love of God.  He has already done most the work for you.  The truth lies within you, you just have to uncover it. 

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA

THE CLOSED DOOR

THE CLOSED DOOR

There are few things that seem as final as a closed door. If you are on the inside, it can signal security, but if you are on the outside, it can represent rejection.  When someone dies, we stand before a door that has been effectively slammed in our faces.  There is only one way to open that door, but that is not up to us. 

Besides doors, we can also close our hearts. Arguments turn into unresolvable feuds when hearts close.  There was a woman, recently, who left a suicide note, which said she was leaving earth because her husband of twenty years had closed his heart to her.  

It’s startling how easy it is to close our hearts over the most petty things. We refuse to listen, to acknowledge apologies or accept anything that could change our minds.  This, then, becomes who we are for the foreseeable future.  We don’t see it as imprisoning ourselves?  We don’t see ourselves as hypocrites, as we treat everyone else with kindness believing we are following Jesus’ command to love one another?  

When we are reminded that Jesus forgave, we are tempted to think, “Well, it was easy for him.” That is so wrong. Case in Point:  Jesus goes to the temple to pray on the Sabbath.  It soon becomes obvious that his enemies have set a trap.  A man is in the crowd with a withered hand.  The enemies wait and watch knowing Jesus will help him and that will condemn Jesus.  But Jesus knowing what they’re thinking, asks them whether it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath and to save life rather than destroy it? Because they stood silent, he called the man over and healed him. The Gospel writer says, “He looked at them with anger and grieved at the hardness of their hearts.”  (Mark 3:1-6)

The Pharisees left then and joined the forces of Herod to think up ways to do away with him.  Yet after all that, he prayed for them from the cross!  Still think it was easy for Jesus?  Whenever the subject comes up ,and someone says it was easier for Jesus because he was God, I am reminded of the words of Phillip Yancy, 

“Jesus did not come to show us how to be God. He came to show us how to be human.”

Opening our hearts means setting ourselves free, not necessarily patching up the relationships. That will come or not, but at least we will have let the burden go.  It’s a start.

Carol Lemelin OPA

ST. STEPHEN First Martyr for Christ

SAINT STEPHEN

First Martyr for Jesus

Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes:
"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,
you always oppose the Holy Spirit;you are just like your ancestors.
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?
They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one,
whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.
You received the law as transmitted by angels,but you did not observe it." (ACTS: 7:51)

You can almost see the fire in Stephen’s eyes as he calls out the people.  Their fury over his words was born of guilt, and the fear that he could be right.  So the only solution was to kill him, which they did.  

Much is made of Saint Paul’s presence at this event. It has always seemed to me to be added as an afterthought.  Since Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles, did Luke ask Paul about including him in the Acts? It could be that Paul was changed by the similarity between Stephen and himself.  Both of them in imbued with the ability to speak passionately. Did he feel a sense of unease for having watched the stoning?  When Jesus appeared to him and called him by name and asked why he was persecuting his followers, did Paul recall the event? Was that why he surrendered so easily to his blindness and obeyed the direction to go into the city and wait?    Is it possible that Paul’s miraculous change of heart had its beginning that day as the cloaks fell at his feet and Stephen called out the name of Jesus?  

The overwhelming power of the love of God has sustained many people since Stephen.  It was evident in St. Paul and St. Peter and has been evident in numerous followers of Christ.  The presence of Jesus in our hearts, once acknowledged, takes over our lives and reveals strengths we never knew we had. In all honesty, most of us could not or would not preach with the fire of Stephen or Paul.  That does not mean that we can’t share our love of Christ and our conviction that life lived in Him brings peace. Christ was not speaking just to the apostles when he commanded that the world should know of him.  We are expected to hear and obey as well.

On Sunday I had purely random conversation with a couple I met at the Mall. It was fun to share with them. Then as we parted ways, we exchanged first names and the man said, “You pray for me and I’ll pray for you and we’ll see what wonderful things will happen.”   

And there it is, a simple and heartfelt revelation of faith. Unfortunately we are encouraged to get people to come to church, but what we really should be doing is helping them get to know Christ.  We have to convey our belief that we are all bound to Christ and through Him to God.  It’s a beautiful thought and easy to express. So let His love flow through you as you strive to do His will. 

Blessings,

Carol Lemelin OPA